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Tools Reference

The TfL MCP Server exposes 6 dynamic tools that query live London transport data via the TfL Unified API. Names of stops are automatically resolved to NaPTAN IDs dynamically.

service_status — Service Status

Get the current operational status and disruptions for London Underground lines.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
modes string Yes Currently fixed to tube

Example query: "Is the Central line running normally?"

Example response (text fallback): 

Central: Good Service
Victoria: Minor Delays — Earlier signal failure at Stockwell

MCP Apps UI (Progressive Enhancement)

This tool includes MCP Apps support. UI-capable hosts (e.g. Claude Desktop) can render an interactive service status board. Non-UI hosts continue to receive the text response above.

  • Resource URI: ui://tfl/service-status
  • MIME type: text/html;profile=mcp-app
  • Design: London transport status-board inspired (uses standard line colours, not TfL brand identity)

The tool also returns structured JSON data alongside the text, allowing the UI to render status information without parsing human-readable text:

[
  { "id": "central", "name": "Central", "statuses": [{ "severity": "Good Service" }] },
  { "id": "victoria", "name": "Victoria", "statuses": [{ "severity": "Minor Delays", "reason": "Earlier signal failure" }] }
]

arrivals — Stop Arrivals

Get live arrival predictions at a TfL stop by its common name.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
stopName string Yes Stop name or search term, e.g. oxford

Example query: "When is the next tube from Oxford Circus?"

Example response: 

Central → Epping: 2 min (Eastbound - Platform 2)
Central → Epping: 5 min (Eastbound - Platform 2)

journey — Journey Planner

Plan a journey between two points using the TfL Journey Planner, combining different transport modes.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
from string Yes Origin: NaPTAN ID, postcode, or lat,lon
to string Yes Destination: NaPTAN ID, postcode, or lat,lon

Example query: "How do I get from King's Cross to Canary Wharf?"

Example response: 

Journey 1 (32 min):
  - Take Piccadilly line to King's Cross St. Pancras (2 min)
  - Take Jubilee line to Canary Wharf (28 min)
  - Walk to destination (2 min)

bike_points — Santander Cycles Docking Stations

List all Santander Cycles docking stations across London with current bike and empty dock availability.

Parameters: None

Example query: "Are there any bikes available near Clerkenwell?"

Example response: 

BikePoints_1 — River Street, Clerkenwell: 9 bikes, 9 empty docks
BikePoints_2 — Phillimore Gardens, Kensington: 0 bikes, 13 empty docks

crowding — Station Crowding

Get live crowding data for a TfL station by its name, showing how busy it is compared to the typical baseline.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
stopName string Yes Stop name or search term, e.g. oxford circus

Example query: "How busy is Oxford Circus right now?"

Example response: 

940GZZLUOXC: 69% of typical crowding level (baseline ratio: 0.6863)

fares — Fare Finder

Get fare information between two named TfL stops, including pay-as-you-go and cash single prices.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
fromName string Yes Origin stop name, e.g. oxford circus
toName string Yes Destination stop name, e.g. bond street

Example query: "How much is a tube fare from Oxford Circus to Bond Street?"

Example response: 

Oxford Circus → Bond Street (Adult):
  £2.80 — Pay as you go (Peak)
  £2.70 — Pay as you go (Off Peak)
  £6.70 — CashSingle (Anytime)